Deborah Diane Hoopes

Deborah Diane Hoopes

Cedar Rapids

Deborah Diane Hoopes, 73, of Cedar Rapids, IA, passed away peacefully, November 14, after a long journey with pancreatic cancer. A native Chicagoan, Debbie was born to Harry and Ione Engel on March 4, 1951 – her parents’ own 10th wedding anniversary. After completing nursing school, Debbie moved to Cedar Rapids in 1973 to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing at Coe College. She held many nursing positions over the years at both Mercy and St. Luke’s hospitals, in addition to serving as the campus nurse at Coe in the early 1980’s, and taught nursing at Mt. Mercy College. Debbie spent more than 20 years with Principal Financial Group in utilization review and retired in 2017 from United Fire Group.

One of her proudest accomplishments was as an entrepreneur – she had a small business in the 1980’s named Strictly Chocolate that included hand-cut, small batch brownies and cookies, and chocolate mints licensed with the University of Iowa Hawkeye logo. In addition to selling her most popular macadamia nut brownies and mints with her family at Iowa football games, Debbie also sold brownies at a food cart in the Coventry Gardens Mall on the weekends. Long after the business closed, she still baked special orders and holiday gifts for friends and her own physicians.

Debbie was known to all as a giver. She constantly thought of others before herself and enjoyed spending time with friends – taking short road trips to antique shops, exploring local restaurants in small towns, and hosting a 4th of July brunch each year. She loved the fall season the most and decorating her home for the holidays. Family, above all, was always her priority. She was remarkably strong and fiercely independent to all who knew her, even during her treatment and setbacks, and never missed friends’ birthdays or opportunities to do things for others and stay socially active.

Debbie is survived by her daughter, Sara Hoopes, brothers Vincent Engel (Fred) and Joel Engel (Cindy), sister Marilyn Mellin (Howard), and many beloved nieces and nephews. She is also survived by Sara’s dog Harper, who was intuitively and loyally by her side throughout her diagnosis and treatment. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family and will be donated to Shelburne Farms, an educational nonprofit in Vermont, Debbie’s favorite state. Teahen Funeral Home is assisting the family. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

The family would like to thank Debbie’s medical team in Cedar Rapids and at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for all of their care and support. Immense gratitude for Drs. Mary Anne Nelson and Todd Langager in Cedar Rapids, and Drs. Chandrikha Chandrasekharan and James Howe at UIHC. Additionally, UIHC NPs Jadyn and Andrea, and the infusion nurses, were always incredibly giving of their time and attention to detail. Finally, thank you to the wonderful St. Croix Hospice nurses, especially Maddie and Jessica, and the entire hospice staff who helped to care for Debbie in her final weeks. The family is so grateful.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.